Month: July 2011

The second day of training consists of “Line Operating Experience” or LOE. LOEs mimic an actual flight, but usually have some sort of emergency en-route. For example, this year we flew two flights, one from Newark to Cleveland and a second from Cleveland to Chicago. During our first flight our Thrust Management Computer (TMC) broke en-route.

That meant that we had to calculate the engine parameters manually and make sure that the engines did not exceed those parameters. It also meant that our auto throttle system were inoperative. While auto throttles are certainly not required, they definitely make our job easier, so not having them adds an extra bit of challenge. After dealing with our TMC issue, we executed a non-precision approach into Cleveland. Being that this was a simulator event we did not see the runway at the required height and thus had to perform a rejected landing procedure. After we leveled off, we discussed our fuel situation and decided that we had enough for one more attempt in Cleveland and would divert to Detroit if this attempt was not successful. Fortunately, the simulator weather had improved and we were able to land in Cleveland. Just as with an actual flight, we taxied to the appropriate gate and parked the ‘airplane’.Continue reading

One of the most important aspects of being an airline pilot is always being prepared for the unexpected. Routine trips can be mundane at times but proper preparation can help avert tragedy when disaster strikes. Obviously, we cannot practice things such as engine fires and failures, navigation equipment failures or really much else during the course of flying passengers. In years past, airlines would allow pilots to take out an empty aircraft, usually in the middle of the night, and practice such scenarios in real life. Pan Am and TWA even went so far as to utilize the nearly abandoned Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport (TNT) in the middle of the Florida Everglades. TNT was used almost exclusively for airline training. The airlines thought that by isolating the training in the Everglades they were reducing exposure should the unfortunate occur during a training event. Also, noise complaints were nonexistent due to the remote location.Continue reading

I checked my schedule online Saturday evening before going to bed in my hotel room in Dulles, Virginia. I had been on temporary duty assignment in D.C. for over a month, and had gotten used to the typical flying in and out of Dulles International Airport. However, this assignment was a bit confusing and daunting. It consisted of multiple flights to airports not even served by Atlantic Southeast Airlines, along with flights, resulting in over 16 hours of duty. I did some extra checking and discovered that I had been assigned to conduct Type II Non-Revenue Ferry Operations for the entire day.Continue reading

American Airlines placed the largest aircraft order in commercial aviation history Wednesday, committing to purchase 130 Airbus A320 family aircraft, 130 A320neos, 100 Boeing 737NGs and also committing to order 100 of a new re-engined variation of the Boeing 737.Continue reading

AerCap Holdings, an independent aircraft leasing firm, has entered into a purchase-leaseback transaction with American Airlines to finance up to 35 Boeing 737-800s. The deal covers 29 deliveries, of which 26 were previously ordered and three are new. American said the deal also includes six more 737-800 aircraft that American can purchase and, if exercised, would be delivered in 2013-14.Continue reading

United Airlines has announced that it will be recalling 100-200 of its pilots that are presently on furlough. Recalls will be taking place over the next year. United currently has around 1,400 pilots on furlough and expects to make the recall offer shortly. The recalled pilots will actually be flying for Continental as the two airlines continue to merge their operations.Continue reading

Clear signs are emerging of a long-expected and much talked about severe pilot shortage. At the Paris Airshow last week, both Airbus and Boeing booked orders for more than $25 billion in airliner sales. AirAsia alone ordered 200 aircraft.Continue reading

American Eagle used PilotPool.com recently to announce to the pilots there that they were lowering their hiring minimums, and that Eagle would be paying for pilots they hire to take ATP’s Regional Jet Standards Certification Program before they begin training with Eagle. That is a great endorsement of ATP’s RJ Program for sure, but it is also an endorsement of PilotPool.com.Continue reading